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VINCENCO BELLINI
MARBECKS COLLECTABLE: Bellini: Zaira (complete opera recorded live in 1990) Katia Ricciarelli, Simone Alaimo, Ramon Vargas, Alexandra Papadjakou / Orchestra del Teatro Massimo Bellini di Catania, Paolo Olmi [ Nuova Era / 2 CD Box Set - released 4/Sep/2009 ] "(Katia Ricciarelli gives) a highly impressive portrayal of the title part. As Orosmane, Simone Alaimo's lean bass is also a further strength with his clear diction a welcome hallmark." MusicWeb |
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VINCENCO BELLINI
MARBECKS COLLECTABLE: I Capuleti E I Monteccchi (complete opera recorded in 1999 with libretto) Jennifer Larmore, Hei-Kyung Hong, Paul Groves, Robert Lloyd / Scottish Chamber Orchestra, Donald Runnicles [ Teldec Classics / 2 CD Box Set - released 12/Oct/1999 ] "Donald Runnicles offers a fresh and sympathetic reading of Bellini's 'Romeo and Juliet' opera with an outstanding cast…Though the competition is strong, the Teldec set scores both in its casting and in its fullness of sound." (Penguin Guide *** Key |
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GIUSEPPE VERDI
MARBECKS COLLECTABLE: My Favorite Moments From Rigoletto Luciano Pavarotti, Joan Sutherland, Sherrill Milnes, Roberto Scaltriti, Leo Nucci, Huguette Tourangeau, etc [ Decca / London Pavarotti's Opera Made Easy / CD - released 10/Jun/2009 ] 15 famous arias, duets, and ensembles from Verdi's famous tragic opera 'Rigoletto' |
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GIUSEPPE VERDI
MARBECKS COLLECTABLE: Verdi: Don Carlo (Complete Opera with libretto recorded in 1993) Michael Sylvester, Aprile Millo, Ferruccio Furlanetto, Vladimir Chernov, Dolora Zajick / Metropolitan Opera Orchestra and Chorus, James Levine [ Sony Classical / 3 CD Box Set - released 20/Nov/1993 ] "Levine's performance of the five-act Italian Don Carlo supersedes all other versions, because he conducts Verdi's spacious score with such masterly skill and meticulous attention to detail, and has so magnificent an orchestra at his command" BBC |
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GIACOMO PUCCINI
MARBECKS COLLECTABLE: Puccini: Turandot (Highlights from the opera) Montserrat Caballe, Jose Carreras, Mirella Freni, Alain Lombard [ EMI Redline / CD - released 29/Jun/1978 ] "From the verystart Caballe conveys an element of mystery while Freni underlines the dramatic rather than the lyrical side of Liu's role." (Penguin Guide) |
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DONIZETTI / GOUNOD / PUCCINI / BISHOP / TOSTI / etc
MARBECKS COLLECTABLE: Nellie Melba: Opera Arias & Songs Nellie Melba (soprano) [ EMI Classics / CD - released 2/Feb/1988 ] Nellie Melba was Australia's first international superstar, her voice and charisma captivating audiences. |
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ADOLPHE ADAM
MARBECKS COLLECTABLE: Adam: Giselle [complete ballet] Orchestra of the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden, Richard Bonynge [ Decca / 2 CD - released 19/Apr/2012 ] "Richard Bonynge's performance on Decca restores Adam's original and is a bit more strongly characterised, while the Decca sound has a slightly sharper and brighter profile." (Three Stars penguin Guide) |
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BENJAMIN BRITTEN
MARBECKS COLLECTABLE: Britten: The Turn of the Screw (Complete opera recorded in 1994 with libretto) Philip Langridge, Felicity Lott, Sam Pay, Eileen Hulse, Phyllis Cannan, Nadine Secunde / Aldeburgh Festival Ensemble, Steuart Bedford, conductor [ Collins Classics / 2 CD Box Set - released 25/Aug/1994 ] "The cast could hardly be bettered, with Felicity Lott an involving Governess and Philip Langridge mesmerising as the ghostly Quint. The whole enterprise… is a worthy counterpart to the composer's own" BBC Music |
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GIACOMO PUCCINI
MARBECKS COLLECTABLE: Puccini: La Boheme (complete opera) Renata Scotto, Alfredo Kraus, Carol Neblett, Sherrill Milnes, Paul Plishka / Ambrosian Opera Chorus / National Philhrmonic / James Levine [ EMI Classics for Pleasure / 2 CD - released 20/Jul/2006 ] "Scotto sings a lovely "Si, mi chiamano Mimi", and her phrasing is always beautiful...no one newly smitten by the opera will find this performance of it disappointing." (Gramophone) |
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UMBERTO GIORDANO
MARBECKS COLLECTABLE: Giordano: Andrea Chenier (Complete opera recorded in 1976 with libretto) Renata Scotto, Placido Domingo, Jean Kraft, Sherrill Milnes / National Philharmonic Orchestra, James Levine [ RCA Opera Series / 2 CD Box Set - released 20/Feb/1977 ] "for Scotto's sake and to a slightly lesser extent for Domingo's, I think I would choose RCA" Gramophone This set is currently unavailable |
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GIACOMO PUCCINI
MARBECKS COLLECTABLE: Puccini: Tosca (Highlights from the complete opera) Renata Scotto, Placido Domingo, Renato Bruson / Philharmonia Orchestra. James Levine [ EMI Classics / CD - released 1/Oct/1991 ] Original recording made at Kingsway Hall, London, July, august 1980 |
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GIACOMO PUCCINI
MARBECKS COLLECTABLE: Puccini: Madama Butterfly (Complete Opera recorded in 1959) Renata Tebaldi, Carlo Bergonzi, Fiorenza Cossotto, Enzo Sordello / Coro Dell'Accademia Nazionale Di Santa Cecilia, Tullio Serafin [ Decca / 2 CD Box Set - released 20/Sep/2009 ] "There are few accounts of the role that are more securely, more gloriously sung, and with a voice that seems without a flaw throughout its register" Gramophone |
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CARL MARIA von WEBER
MARBECKS COLLECTABLE: Weber, completed Mahler: Die Drei Pintos (The Three Pintos) [complete opera] Robert Holzer, Sophie Marilley, Peter Furlon / Wexford Festival Opera Chorus, National Philharmonic Orchestra of Belarus Paolo Arrivabeni [ Naxos / 2 CD - released 1/Mar/2004 ] Recorded: 22, 25, 28 & 31 October 2003 Recording Venue: Theatre Royal, High Street, Wexford, Ireland |
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GIACOMO PUCCINI
MARBECKS COLLECTABLE: Puccini: La Boheme (complete opera recorded in 1992) Roberto Alagna, Angela Gheorghiu, Elisabetta Scano, Simon Keenlyside / Orchestra & Chorus of Teatro alla Scala, Riccardo Chailly [ Decca / 2 CD Box Set - released 15/Mar/2012 ] "Gheorghiu's glorious singing is powerfully matched by the heroic tones of Alagna, culminating in a deeply moving death-scene." (Penguin Guide) |
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GIACOMO PUCCINI
MARBECKS COLLECTABLE: Puccini: La Boheme (Complete opera recorded in 1995) (with complete libretto) Roberto Alagna, Leontina Vaduva, Thomas Hampson, Ruth Ann Swenson / Philharmonia Orchestra, Antonio Pappano [ EMI Classics / 2 CD Box Set - released 18/Aug/2006 ] "Pappano's recording of Boheme is the finest in over 20 years or even longer - sumptuously played and recorded, and characterfully sung by a starry cast. This is a version to stand alongside the classics of the past." Rosette. Penguin Stereo Guide. |
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GIUSEPPE VERDI
MARBECK COLLECTABLE: Verdi: La Traviata (complete opera recorded in 1994) Angela Gheorghiu, Frank Lopardo, Leo Nucci / Royal Opera / Sir Georg Solti [ Decca Classics / 2 CD Box Set - released 25/Oct/2012 ] "... the Decca engineers here offer one of the most vivid and involving versions ever of La Traviata ... Gheorghiu brings heartfelt revelations, using her rich and vibrant, finely shaded soprano with consistent subtlety." Rosette Penguin Guide |
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LEON MINKUS
MARBECKS COLLECTABLE: Minkus: Paquita / La Bayadere (ballets) Sofia National Opera Orchestra, Boris Spassov [ Capriccio / CD - released 12/Dec/1995 ] "This is a wonderful recording of music of the under-rated Minkus (and a few others), a way to often neglected composer of some of the most famous works of ballet." (Amazon.com) |
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FREDERICK DELIUS
MARBECKS COLLECTABLE: Delius: Violin Concerto / Two Aquarelles / On Hearing the First Cuckoo in Spring / etc Tasmin Little (violin) / Welsh National Opera rchestra, Sir Charles Mackerras [ Argo / CD - released 1/Oct/1992 ] Recorded: 1991 Recording Venue: Brangwyn Hall, Swansea |
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UMBERTO GIORDANO
MARBECKS COLLECTABLE: Giordano: Andrea Chenier (complete opera) Renata Tebaldi, Mario del Monaco, Ettore Bastianini / Orchestra e cora dell'Accademia di Santa Cecilia, Roma, Gianandrea Gavazzeni [ Decca / 2 CD Box Set - released 2/Feb/1990 ] Originally recorded 1957 |
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GIOACCHINO ROSSINI
MARBECKS COLLECTABLE: Rossini: Il barbiere di Siviglia [The Barber of Seville] complete studio recording of the opera recorded in 1972 Teresa Berganza, Luigi Alva, Hermann Prey, Enzo Dara / Orchestra del Teatro alla Scala, Claudio Abbado [ Deutsche Grammophon 2 CD + Blu-ray Audio + DVD / 4 CD/DVD Box Set - released 17/Mar/2023 ] The hardcover edition of Claudio Abbado's legendary recording of Rossini's opera The Barber of Seville is out of print and now available in a new packaged set: 2 CD + BD audio (24bit/96kHz) + DVD video box set. |